PREVIEW

NATO Announces Biggest Military Drill Since the Cold War. Reuters reports that NATO will launch its largest military exercise since the Cold War, a rehearsal for the United States reinforcing European allies bordering Russia. On January 18, the alliance's top military commander, Chris Cavoli, said that approximately 90,000 troops will participate in the Steadfast Defender 2024 drills. Over 50 ships will also participate in the drills, in addition to over 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones. At least 1,100 combat vehicles, including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles, will take part in the military exercises. "Steadfast Defender 2024 will demonstrate NATO's ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the alliance to reinforce the defense of Europe." NATO statement, via Reuters. The rehearsal of a conflict with a "near-peer" adversary is scheduled to run through May. Reuters reports that the last time NATO held a comparably large military drill was in 1988, involving 125,000 participants. Steadfast Defender will involve troops from NATO countries and Sweden, which hopes to join the alliance in the near future. The second phase of the drill will reportedly take place in Poland along the alliance's eastern flank, focusing on the deployment of NATO's quick reaction force. Other Baltic states seen to be at the highest risk of a potential Russian attack will also host drills, along with Germany, which serves as a hub for incoming reinforcements. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT